1.) Most Popular / Provocative: Big Sean - Control (Prod. No. I.D.)
ft. Kendrick Lamar & Jay Electronica
There's already been a huge amount of dialogue about Kendrick's verse, so we'll keep it simple. However you feel about his approach, he definitely shook the rap game up and switched the focus to raw lyricism, at least for the time being. The general consensus is that his name dropping was more of a call to arms than a diss, but either way, none of those mentioned have directly responded in rhyme yet (although many who weren't have come out the woodwork).
Jay Electronica verses are both consistently dope and rare, and you know we have to give him his props. He adds a layer of intellect and spirituality to an otherwise ruthless track and closes it nicely. Sean does his thing, but there's nothing spectacular about his bars, which is amplified by the calibre of both Kendrick and Jay's verses. He seems unfazed, though, and breaks down the track in the Vibe interview above.
It was hip-hop's 40th anniversary on Sunday, and it seems only right that such an impactful track dropped. It'd be nice if we could get back to some of the fundamentals of the culture.
How do y'all feel about it as a whole?
[Excerpt: Big Sean]
Swear the flow's special like an infant's first steps
I got paid to reverse debts
Then I finally found a girl that reverses stress
So now I'm talkin' to the reaper to reverse death
Yep, so I can kick it with my granddad, take him for a ride
Show him I made somethin' out myself and not just tried
Show him the house I bought the fam', let him tour inside
No matter how far ahead I get, I always feel behind
In my mind... but fuck tryin' and not doin'
'Cause not doin' is somethin' a nigga not doin'
I said fuck tryin' and not doin'
'Cause not doin' is somethin' a nigga not doin'
I grew up to Em, B.I.G. and Pac, bitch, and got ruined
So until I got the same crib B.I.G. had in that 'Juicy' vid
Bitch, I can't motherfuckin' stop movin'
Go against me, you won't stop losin'
[Excerpt: Kendrick Lamar]
I'm gonna get it even if you're in the way
And if you're in it, better run, for Pete's sake
I heard the barbershops be in great debates all the time
'Bout who's the best emcee - Kendrick, Jigga and Nas?
Eminem, Andre 3000, the rest of y'all
New niggas just new niggas, don't get involved
And I ain't rockin no more designer shit
White Ts and Nike Cortez, this is red Corvettes anonymous
I'm usually homeboys with the same niggas I'm rhymin' wit
But this is hip-hop and them niggas should know what time it is
And that goes for Jermaine Cole, Big KRIT, Wale
Pusha T, Meek Millz, A$AP Rocky, Drake
Big Sean, Jay Electron', Tyler, Mac Miller
I got love for you all but I'm tryna murder you niggas
Tryna make sure your core fans never heard of you niggas
They dont wanna hear not one more noun or verb from you niggas
[Excerpt: Jay Electronica]
The Lord is our shepherd, so our cup runneth over
Put your trust in the Lord, but tether your Chevy Nova
I’m spittin' this shit for closure
And God is my witness, so you could get it from Hova
To all you magicians that’s fidgeting with the cobra
I’m silent as a rock, ‘cause I came from a rock
That’s why I came with the rock, then signed my name on the Roc
Draw a line around some Earth, then put my name on the plot
'Cause I endured a lot of pain for everything that I got
The eyelashes like umbrellas when it rains from the heart
And the tissue is like an angel kissin' you in the dark
You go from blind sight to hindsight, passion of the Christ
Right to baskin' in the limelight, it take time to get your mind right
Jay Electricity - PBS mysteries
In a lofty place tangling with Satan over history
You can’t say shit to me - Alhamdulillah
It’s strictly by faith that we made it this far
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(Due to sampling issues, "Control" will not be included on Sean's upcoming Hall Of Fame album. Also, the vocal sample is a revolutionary slogan chanted in Portuguese which means "the people united will never be defeated".)